WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement praising the proposed federal rule released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish an historic national program to improve vehicle fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gases.

As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, Sen. Carper said:

“I applaud the Obama Administration’s efforts to set coordinated national fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles. In 2007, I worked to forge the congressional compromise that raised vehicle fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years, and today’s proposed rule will build upon our efforts.

“Because one-third of greenhouse gases in the United States come from transportation, reducing emissions from automobiles and providing Americans with alternatives to driving are important steps in reversing climate change.”